When they arrived, they said to each courtier, “Some reckless youths from among us have taken refuge in the king’s land. They have abandoned the religion of their people without embracing yours. Our elders have sent us to the king so that he may return them to us. When we speak to him, please advise him to hand them over to us.” They replied, “Certainly.”
The two envoys then presented their gifts to the Negus, who accepted them, and they stated their case. The courtiers said, “They have spoken the truth, O king. Their own people have better knowledge of them and of the faults they criticize.” The Negus grew angry and said, “By Allah, never! I will not deliver them to those men. They have sought my protection, settled in my land, and chosen me over others. I will not send for them until I summon them and ask them about what is being said.”
He therefore sent for the companions of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. When his emissary reached them, they gathered together and said to one another, “What shall we say when we stand before him?” They answered, “By Allah, we will say only what Allah has taught us and what our Prophet has commanded us, come what may.”
When they entered, the Negus had already assembled his bishops, who had laid out their scriptures around him. He asked, “What is this religion for which you have left your people, yet you have not entered my faith nor that of any other community?”
Jaʿfar ibn Abī Ṭālib spoke: “O king, we were a people steeped in ignorance. We worshipped idols, ate carrion, committed shameful deeds, severed family ties, mistreated our neighbors, and the strong among us devoured the weak. We remained in that state until Allah sent us a messenger from among ourselves, whose lineage, truthfulness, trustworthiness, and chastity we knew. He called us to worship Allah alone and renounce what we and our fathers had worshipped of stones and idols. He commanded us to speak the truth, fulfill trusts, maintain family ties, honor our neighbors, and refrain from forbidden acts and bloodshed. He forbade us from indecency, false testimony, consuming the property of orphans, and slandering chaste women. He ordered us to worship Allah alone and associate nothing with Him,